Five Web Apps to make you smarter

WikiHow

While IT folks are, of course, some of the smartest people on the planet, even we need to keep our skills sharp. There may even be skills we don’t have that might make us more useful or perhaps advance our career. I’ve assembled five web apps (with a bonus sixth selection!) that you can use to hone your IT skills as well as make yourself smarter in other business-related areas.

The first selection is WikiHow. It is a collection of walkthroughs on how to do just about anything - from IT to public speaking to building a cabinet.

Screenshot of WikiHow website by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

WikiHow

This is a problem many desktop support people probably face: the user has put in a help desk ticket because they've got this spot on their screen that won't go away. Most IT people would probably fiddle with it and maybe get around to try some of the steps in this article by trial and error, but WikiHow can save you that precious time by giving you steps to follow right away.

Screenshot of WikiHow website by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

Lynda.com

Next is Lynda.com. A video-training site, it has tutorials/classes on nearly everything as well.

Screenshot of Lynda.com website by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

Lynda.com

Drilling down into what is available, you can see here a list of 15 courses available in the Developer category under the Advanced skill level.

Screenshot of Lynda.com website by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

GP Answers

Group Policy is perhaps the second-biggest boogeyman in Windows, right behind the registry itself. GP Answers is a site dedicated to tips, tricks, and tutorials on how to make Group Policy work for you.

Screenshot of GP Answers website by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

GP Answers

Here's an example Group Policy ADM file that disables writing data to USB drives. It's likely that many IT professionals could use something like this to keep private company data from walking.

Screenshot of GP Answers website by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

MSDN

Windows developers already know MSDN as a go-to site for documentation and code samples. While it is geared toward developers, network and system administrators can also benefit from the information contained on this site.

Screenshot of MSDN website by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

MSDN

For example, the dedicated section on Internet Explorer may help network administrators decide when they should roll out the next version to their user base and how much training may be needed on the new features or layout.

Screenshot of MSDN website by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

Mind Tools

Mind Tools does not have any directly IT-related topics on their site, however many of the topics will make you a better employee, employer, or contract worker/consultant.

Screenshot of Mind Tools website by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

Mind Tools

Many IT professionals eventually move toward a management role - IT manager, CTO, or CIO, for example - and may need to learn good leadership skills. Mind Tools offers several courses under various topics, like leadership, to help you advance yourself and your career.

WikiHow

While IT folks are, of course, some of the smartest people on the planet, even we need to keep our skills sharp. There may even be skills we don’t have that might make us more useful or perhaps advance our career. I’ve assembled five web apps (with a bonus sixth selection!) that you can use to hone your IT skills as well as make yourself smarter in other business-related areas.

The first selection is WikiHow. It is a collection of walkthroughs on how to do just about anything - from IT to public speaking to building a cabinet.

In these times of AJAX, it still navigates through the most basic html features, losing positioning of the page at every slide flip, it reloads the whole page, it is slow, it is tiresome on the eyes, and it is so cumbersome that it seriously keeps the use from willing to see the content despite his interest on the content. Potential viewers are being kept away because of this interface.

'Here's an example Group Policy ADM file that disables writing data to USB drives. It's likely that many IT professionals could use something like this to keep private company data from walking.'
Somebody should clue our Canadian federal government in on this, as well as the B.C. provincial one. USB sticks with confidential personal info seem to have learned how to grow legs and then lose themselves.

It's tough to have x% of readers go sideways on your efforts to share important resource info. They ought to review the apps and use any for their benefit...if they'd but stop their b___tching. But they won't, so sad; it's in their nature.
And so thickens the writer's skin.
For my part, I appreciate your article - well done. I will review and hope to benefit from what you've shared with us. Muchas Gracias!

Muhammad, I'm not quite sure what exactly your definition of an "app" is, but it's obviously wrong. Here's but one definition of an app:
"An application program (sometimes shortened to application) is any program designed to perform a specific function directly for the user or, in some cases, for another application program."
Other definitions are similar. Just because the app is web-based doesn't preclude it from being an app! HTML 5 is greatly expanding what can be done over the web. Apparently, your definition of an app is one where the installation and processing is all done locally (which is incorrect).
I guess in closing, I'll say that I get EXTREMELY irritated when people "dis" articles with baseless comments JUST BECAUSE they feel they have to make a comment. No matter how you look at is, Muhammad, the fact that an app is accessed and utilized over the internet and through a web-based GUI doesn't NOT mean it is not an app. I guess I'll explain it simply: Yes, those are websites but they host apps that perform a function for the end user. 'Nuff said.
Shawn Collins

"A program that gives a computer instructions that provide the user with tools to accomplish a task"
Most of the"apps" mentioned provide information not tools. Next we'll say wikipedia in an app and so is Yahoo news and Techrepublic.

I have "apps" on my phone that tell me about good restaurants, where to find an ATM, the weather in several locations, financial information, the definition and pronunciation of almost any English word I come across and sports scores in just about any sport I can think of as well as a slew of other "apps" that do various things for me. By your definition, someone should drop Apple and Google an email and let them know that they aren't really providing anyone with an "app" - they're just providing "information".
I believe you are trying to put too fine a point on the situation. Once upon a time, your definition would have worked. In today's world, where consumers are looking to purchase always-on, ready-at-anytime-on-any-device services to accomplish what they once did with the purchase of a software program, the definition of an "app" can no longer be restricted to simply a tool. It's much bigger than that and evolving everyday.
And if TechRepublic provides me with information someday that helps me in my job, increases my awareness about training/learning opportunities or saves me money in my budget, then I will call them an "app"!